“Good morning,” Reece breathed, wanting to be there so badly. He smiled when Nick’s eyes shot open instantly and the phone was intercepted.
“Ree,” Nick said, deep voice sweeping chills over Reece’s body.
“What’s wrong, Nicky? You’re having a bad day?”
“Can’t fuckin’ sleep around here…”
“But Nicky… You never have trouble sleeping.” He always napped so easily, too.
“He just misses you is all,” Alex said, stealing the phone back. Reece smiled as the camera was jostled about, the phone being snatched back and forth between Alex and Nick until it was taken by Declan.
“Hey, Reece,” Declan said with a crooked grin. “You look like you’ve been sleepin’ good.”
“Mm.” Reece propped his chin on his hand and smiled tiredly. “I’d sleep longer if I didn’t have work.”
“When are you off?” Alex asked before he took the phone back from Declan.
“Why?”
“Well, if you have some time off this weekend, maybe you could fly out and play with us.”
Reece didn’t know what to say to that. Did he want to? Absolutely yes. But could he? It was also sudden.
But Alex saw the concern in his face and said, “If you’re interested, I’ll take care of everything for you,” and that was all Reece needed to hear to make up his mind.
Even if only for the weekend, he’d fly to L.A., get to see Nick and the others, and maybe even play some ball with them too.
“Then I’m definitely free.”
18
Chapter 18 - Nick
“‘Ey yo, I wasn’t done with that,” Nick said, holding out a hand for the phone that had been stolen and clenching it into a fist when Alex just tucked it into his pocket.
“It’s time to head to the gym. No more pouting. I’ll make sure you’re tired enough to sleep tonight. Reece will be coming over the weekend, and we want to show him an overall improvement in our playing. Don’t we?” Alex stared up at him, a brow arched in challenge.
Nick’s jaw tensed, and he pointedly glared at the nearest wall, but he wouldn’t argue with Alex. Reece was coming… And Nick was going to fuck him so hard he’d never forget it.
He arrived Thursday evening around nine o’clock. Nick was forced to remain at the training camp while someone drove Alex out to the airport to pick Reece up. He couldn’t sit still, even as he sat on the couch after Declan teased him about relaxing, Nick’s leg bounced. He still couldn’t believe Reece was coming,anxious and eager for the early reunion, and when Alex returned and walked through the door, all Nick saw was silky blond hair behind him.
“You made it!” Declan was the first one there, crushing Reece in a one-armed hug when he was barely in the room. “How was the flight?”
“Long, but you know, First Class is a dream.”
“Oh, hell yeah,” Declan agreed, giving Reece another squeeze before releasing him.
Reece laughed. “It’s good to see you guys. I can’t believe I get to check the camp out.”
“Yes, well, I’m sure you’ll fit right in,” Alex said.
Finally, once everyone stepped out of Nick’s way, he could properly see Reece across the room. Nick was still on the couch, but he’d calmed. His leg was no longer bouncing. He was just wholly focused on Reece, and when their eyes met, the smile that lit Reece’s face made Nick’s chest tighten, and something warm tingled in his gut.
“Nicky!”
He was across the room, arms around Nick’s neck in a flash, and damn if he wasn’t smooth and warm and smelling likehome.Nick pressed his nose to Reece’s cheek, greedily breathing in the scent of him, his hands finding Reece’s hips and slipping up to his waist under his shirt and around his back.
“Took you long enough,” he grumbled, and Reece snickered as he sat on Nick’s lap, not loosening his hold in the slightest.
